cordless tool batteries
- Thread starter bluesboy
- Start date
I had a couple of generic Dewalt batteries for my lithium Dewalt stuff, and they worked well for the year I had that system. I then sold it to a friend who's a pro carpenter and had all his stuff stolen. He got those 2 generic batteries plus 4 regular Dewalt ones.
p00p
Well-known member
I've had 50% good with off brand batteries. Mainly for the black & decker 40V & 20V powertools. The issue I have is that the 40V needs to be positioned on the charger in a way it will charge, otherwise it will "error", but when charged, it lasts as long if not longer than the B&D battery. The 20V don't seem to last as long as the real deal, charges fine.
nadogail
Well-known member
You pay your money and take your chances. Who can you complain to if your results are disappointing?
RTM
Well-known member
I just bought one of these, it is not the Ni Cad, so should last a bit longer. Have not tested it for life yet, but charged up, and ran the tools, so that’s a positive. Life may get tested a bit this weekend on the recip saw.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/123901810233
https://www.ebay.com/itm/123901810233
p00p
Well-known member
To be able to have you respond is all that was ever the goal this entire time. Now everything is complete! yAy!!!!
BlindViper
Well-known member
Cheap knock off batteries will work but they are almost never rated properly. Batteries from the manufacture are expensive because of the testing and quality. Cheap batteries will work but they also can catch themselves on fire or explode. Is it worth 100$ to burn your garage, house or vehicle down?
wafrederick
Well-known member
The aftermarket batteries,the Milwaukee versions are no good.They burn up battery chargers,seen a picture of this on a Milwaukee fan site on Facebook.Doe s void the warranty on the fuel line tools.I went to a Tech expo in Grand Rapids,Mi back in Febuary and Milwaukee had their booth there.I asked the rep this and he said yes.One is seeing burn marks in the battery area of the tool.The fuel line,they have a little computer installed storing the info when the battery has been changed out telling if the real deal or the aftermarket.
I had some luck with some 12V Dewalt batteries off Amazon. At least there I could read reviews though with the way Amazon listings work, sometimes it's clear the reviews are not for the product you are actually buying.
jsaw
Well-known member
OutLore
Well-known member
Same mixed experience here with batteries of all kinds. Some cheap ones are ok, some are not. For the most part by the time you consider any losses or early deaths with the cheap ones and time spent trying to resuscitate them, I've found it's more productive to get the genuine ones if funds allow it. I'm always on the lookout for cheap deals or deals where a "tool only" comes with a battery or a battery set comes with a free tool.
I will say that I find the Milwaukee M12 batteries do not last anywhere near as long as the M18s. Not sure why that is, they all live in the same environment and get used probably about as much as each other.
I will say that I find the Milwaukee M12 batteries do not last anywhere near as long as the M18s. Not sure why that is, they all live in the same environment and get used probably about as much as each other.
anndel
Well-known member
I'e seen noname batteries set garage/houses on fire here in Honolulu over the last 5 years. The owner either put the batteries in the charger and went to bed or went out only to return to his house on fire. Stick with manufacturer's batteries.
HenryAZ
MEMBER EMERITUS
Metabo has introduced (and patented) a new battery technology for their cordless tools, call LiHD. It uses a 10% larger Li battery cell (20700 vs 18650). The larger cell provides the same 3.6V. They claim 67% more power and 87% more run time as compared to their own Li-ion battery pack of the same Ah size. The LiHD packs came with a new cordless drill I bought, so of course I had to look up what I was getting. 
I will say they hold a charge for a much longer time than I am used to with Li-ion. Fully compatible with all prior Li-ion Metabo cordless tools.
I will say they hold a charge for a much longer time than I am used to with Li-ion. Fully compatible with all prior Li-ion Metabo cordless tools.JerryC
Well-known member
My original Dewalt 18v batteries both died a few years ago. One of them smoked when it was on the charger. I took it off the charger and let it sit in the driveway for a couple of days because it got really hot. It continued to smoke for hours, I was thinking it was going to catch fire or explode, maybe both.
I bought the 20v to 18v adapter kit and used that for a time, actually used the circular saw about a month ago. I've switched to Ryobi One+ now but keep the old DeWalts around for backup.
The Project Farm guy on YouTube did some testing recently and came to the same conclusion:
Batteries are a great profit center for the tool businesses, but they're also a place I wouldn't choose to economize for anything but the most-basic uses.
I've considered getting one of the better-rated M12 high capacity batteries for my hood light since it's "easy work" - I just wouldn't trust it on the charger if I wasn't around.
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TuxThePenguin
Well-known member
I don't think what I quoted is enough to get a patent. Gotta be more to it than that.
joshmodelskidoo
Well-known member
I tried some duracell Replacement camera batteries from batteries plus and they were ok but not near as good as canon batteries. I also tried some ebay ones and 1 of the 2 died shortly after i got them and the other one lasted about a year but didn’t last long in the camera.
Would never ever leave the no name batteries on a charger unattended.
NiCad batteries don't "vent with flame" when overcharged. Also, if you are using a factory charger then this is not likely to be an issue. I have no concerns regarding using my aftermarket batteries in the OEM charger. Cheap Li-ion batteries are a different matter as Li-ion batteries can and do vent flammable gasses when overcharged. That is why charge protection circuits are a big deal with Li-ion batteries.
Ign
Well-known member
You can draw your own conclusions
If you search "ave batteries" on YT he also does some Milwaukees that he puts in the freezer and the knock offs do NOT perform well when cold
If you search "ave batteries" on YT he also does some Milwaukees that he puts in the freezer and the knock offs do NOT perform well when cold
Most or all of the knockoffs are going to be Li-ion
RTM
Well-known member
I think if you are getting NiCad replacements that work in the same chargers, you may find them to be NiMH. The one I linked to, and my Makita replacement are both NiMH.
At least those that are meant to replace li-ion batteries will be. My DeWalt was an older NiCD model. The replacement batteries are labeled as NiCD so I suspect they are.
BlindViper
Well-known member
Would never ever leave the no name batteries on a charger unattended.
They can catch fire in the charger or in the tool while in use.
HenryAZ
MEMBER EMERITUS
I didn't dig enough to find out about the patent. "Patented “AIR COOLED“ charging technology" is what they are referring to.
Disclaimer: I'm not an engineer, just a long-time product guy who is around a lot of really-talented engineers and has had some (likely imperfect) osmosis happen over the years. /disclaimer
I think the main failure condition on batteries is during charge, especially if they're being charged (too) quickly. At least in the electronics industry. It's not the only possible one, by any stretch, but the one engineers I work with seem to have to worry about the most.
I don't have any idea what Milwaukee, etc. is doing with their batteries in terms of charging, but while air cooling is a good idea, especially if you're charging a large-capacity battery quickly, the best thing is to charge it to a moderately high % and then slow down - it's charging a pretty-charged battery quickly where things seem to go bad.